"Egregious mistake"; "ESPN needs to be liquidated": NHL fans bash Connor McDavid's ranking in Top 100 athletes of 21st Century list

NHL fans on the internet voiced their disappointment towards ESPN following the release of their latest Top 100 Athletes of the 21st Century list, which featured Connor McDavid in a lower ranking than many expected.

ESPN recently unveiled its highly anticipated list ranking the Top 100 Athletes of the 21st Century, starting from 100 to 76. The rankings were compiled based on over 70,000 votes from ESPN contributors, ensuring a well-informed selection process.

Notably, the first list unveiled by ESPN featured only one NHL player. Edmonton Oilers' standout forward, Connor McDavid, claimed the No. 98 spot on the list. However, fans seem to be taken aback and disappointed by McDavid's relatively lower ranking.

Expressing their discontent and surprise, fans flocked to X/Twitter to criticize what they perceived as an undervaluation of Connor McDavid's talents and accomplishments.

One user posted:

"Connor McDavid at 98 already makes this list irrelevant lol. That’s such an egregious mistake."

"mcd at 98, ESPN needs to be liquidated," said another.

"McDavid at 98 is egregious," expressed another user.

Here are some of the other top reactions to ESPN's Top 100 Athletes of the 21st Century list:

"'As voted on by ESPN’s experts.' McDavid being at number 98 despite maybe being the best player the sport has seen since Gretzky is an absolute atrocity," said another.

"We already know the final 10 will be Usain Bolt, LeBron, Tom Brady, Simone Biles, Serena Ronaldo or Messi (or both) so who else?" one opined.

"This is about to be the most overly Americanized list of all time.," another fan claimed.

ESPN has planned to disclose 25 athletes daily throughout the week until the ultimate reveal of the No. 1 Athlete of the 21st Century.

Connor McDavid wins Conn Smythe despite falling short of ultimate prize

NHL: Stanley Cup Final-Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers (IMAGN)

Connor McDavid put up one of the best performances in NHL playoff history. The Oilers captain was unstoppable in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, guiding his team to reach the Final.

The Oilers eventually lost to first-time Cup champions Florida Panthers in Game 7. Despite the heartbreaking defeat, McDavid won his first Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

He accumulated 42 points through eight goals and 34 assists in 25 post-season games, only becoming the fourth player in NHL history to rack up over 40 points in a single playoff campaign.